She's gone from immense privilege to exploitation. Going to make a great book someday -authors will be queuing up to write it for her.
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Bet'cha she loves the USA now.Comment -
Brittney Griner being transferred to Russian penal colony after appeal denied
What had been feared for Brittney Griner has come to pass far sooner than expected.
The process has begun for the WNBA All-Star to be transferred to a Russian penal colony, her legal team in Russia announced Wednesday in Moscow, a move her camp has dreaded since her August conviction on drug charges.
A long-shot appeal for Griner was denied on Oct. 25, opening the possibility she would be moved from her previous jail in Moscow to the significantly harsher conditions of a penal colony, where prisoners are forced into hard labor and often abused.
Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison in August.
The transfer reportedly began Friday, a day after U.S. embassy officials met with Griner. Her attorneys reportedly said such transfers typically take weeks or months, so the move seemingly came far earlier than usual. Those attorneys say they no longer know where she is, as notification of her ultimate destination comes via physical mail and can take up to two weeks to arrive.
Griner's agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas released a statement requesting public support:
"Our primary concern continues to be BG's health and well-being. As we work through this very difficult phase of not knowing exactly where BG is or how she is doing, we ask for the public's support in continuing to write letters and express their love and care for her."
It remains unclear how the move will affect negotiations for Griner's release between U.S. officials and Russia. The U.S. is believed to have offered convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in a 2-for-1 deal for Griner and fellow American prisoner Paul Whelan, but Russia has apparently demanded more in one of the highest-profile prisoner swap standoff in recent history.
Bill Richardson, a former New Mexico governor-turned-diplomat specializing in such matters has it will likely take a 2-for-2 deal to get Griner and Whelan home.
White House reacts to Brittney Griner's transfer
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre released a statement affirming the Biden administration's commitment to returning both prisoners:
Every minute that Brittney Griner must endure wrongful detention in Russia is a minute too long.
As the Administration continues to work tirelessly to secure her release, the President has directed the Administration to prevail on her Russian captors to improve her treatment and the conditions she may be forced to endure in a penal colony.
As we have said before, the U.S. Government made a significant offer to the Russians to resolve the current unacceptable and wrongful detentions of American citizens.
In the subsequent weeks, despite a lack of good faith negotiation by the Russians, the U.S. Government has continued to follow up on that offer and propose alternative potential ways forward with the Russians through all available channels.
The U.S. Government is unwavering in its commitment to its work on behalf of Brittney and other Americans detained in Russia —including fellow wrongful detainee Paul Whelan.
Russia moving ahead with Griner's sentence on an expedited schedule could be a negotiation tactic, and ESPN noted officials believe the country is more likely to negotiate in good faith after Tuesday's midterm elections in the U.S., as Vladimir Putin's government would not want to give President Joe Biden a victory at such a pivotal time.
Harsh conditions likely await Brittney Griner at a Russian penal colony. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
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She will get released soon election overComment -
Seems like the Paul Whelan guy is an after thought. NBA is gung ho when it comes to military night and recruitment - honoring the forces etc - but they don't really give a shit about this marine fella.Comment -
Things getting worse for Griner. I still think they won't kill her as it could be an international incident but she's not even going to a settlement penal colony, which is mixed gender and low security, she's headed to a general regime colony. It's considered the harshest category of penal colonies for women...a true Gulag.
It will be all women and the good news for her is that many of them are there for harsh penalties, some for drugs, and they say the women sort of band together because of their common situation.
At a settlement colony they get some privileges, Griner will get none. She will have nothing of her own, not even money, to my knowledge.
For weeks to months she will disappear in the system before emerging in the high-security gulag.
US gov't will probably try to get her home, because this sounds bad. They are probably trying to get a few people home and trying to work out a package that doesn't release a Russian arms dealer.
For now, Griner is totally fukked.
Totally.Comment -
Russia considers drugs a crime against the state, hence the harsh penalties and impications of "trafficking" with just a couple vape cartridges.
She will be with other women under the same circumstances.Comment -
going to be a movie about thisComment -
give you 400 / 1 odds shes pushing that racist BS there day and night , but she's better off there cas china AINT gone but up with that after they take over america and make this land their grocery garden .Comment -
What do you think Trump would have done to get her home? Absolutely nothing. He'd probably say let her rot over there.Comment -
It's really a shame. To be used as a pawn like this in a conflict between two countries. Regardless of your views about the girl, she deserves better than this.Cause Sleep is the Cousin of DeathComment -
Yeah this is just all fukked up and getting worse by the minute. She may not be a political pawn, but just someone who admitted guilt to violating Russian drug laws.
There are other Americans in Russian jails that aren't even consider wrongfully detained by the State Dept. If she's a political pawn, it might because the United States makes her one, not Russia.Comment -
Imagine if this was Lebron. Russia would be finished real quick.Cause Sleep is the Cousin of DeathComment -
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Not true, that was Fake News.
It's basically common knowledge that Trump did not help. He got involved, but it was after the situation was resolved. He had nothing to do with it. Charges were dropped, reduced, and they players were NEVER under house arrest. It was a choice to stay at the hotel. They were checked into the hotel before the public knew they were arrested and had their passports back and flights booked before General Kelly even called them. UCLA told the players to thank Trump, basically for getting involved enough to make that call, even though the call came 2 days after the charges were dropped.
A lot fake news around that event.
Now you know the truth.
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I'm not sure about endorsement deals, but judging by what she was paid she was more valuable to the Russian basketball landscape than the US.
In July, at the trial, the Russian women's team praised her and said she was adored by the fans. Several testified on her behalf. They said she was the heart of the team.
She was facing ten years and they thought pleading guilty would also help reduce a severe sentence.
After all that she got 9 and loses the appeal.
I wonder what the Russian fans think of all this and if they can even be vocal if it's negative.Comment -
Griner more powerful now than every before
Something has to give here we need her home
Rocket are you on her side?Comment -
Coach!!!!Comment -
K175 send me $5Comment
